Date:14/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081458690200.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Loan for paddy farmers

Staff Reporter

Kochi: Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has said that paddy farmers will be given agriculture loans at four per cent interest.

He was inaugurating the valedictory session of the All India Kisan Sabha here on Monday.

The Minister said special consideration would be given to Palakkad, Thrissur and Kuttanad areas for paddy cultivation.

The loans would be made available at reduced rates under the supervision of a monitoring committee comprising the district and panchayat level functionaries and agricultural officers. Mr. Ratnakaran said that vegetable cultivation would be given emphasis to make Kerala self-sufficient in vegetable production by 2009.